What the greens need... is money

As I've said before, I've been thinking for a while about a Green and Democrat alliance.

I always feel a bit queasy when I give money to the dems, even tho so far this year I've avoided giving any money straight to the DNC, and only give money to specific candidates and to organizations like moveon.org.

because, as we all should know by now, the dems as just as much corporate whores as the republicans.

So, I've been thinking about another strategy after this election, which is to start a program with this theme:

“For Now, Vote Democrat, But Donate Green!”.

If the greens had more money, they could organize more effectively, get out their petitions, and drive the debates and the topics in a healthy direction.

And at least shame the dems for their whoring ways. 

What do you know about the green money situation, and finances?

Re: What the greens need... is money

Hi Bill/All

(My experience is mainly with the UK Green Party)
Seems money is the big issue for all the Green's. So many good ideas, and so little cash to do them with! But as I have learned in studying 'personal abundance' courses - it's really never totally about the money. It is about VISION, Discipline and Action. Granted, it is going to take the Greens a lot more work and we will have to be much 'better' than the competition - somewhat like how women feel when they enter in to the world of business. But IMHO there is no other way.

We used to 'bargain' quite often in the London Green Party - we would form alliances with the Liberal Democrats (the third pary in the UK). In a riding where we were strong, they would agree not to solicit - and vice versa. There were a lot of tactical manoeuvres going on.

In the end - all this bargining didn't really do much for the party. If you think you are the underdog, you are probably going to stay the underdog (fighting for scraps).

I believe that the Greens have to be more brave - do they want to win or not? Are they a pressure group on the outskirts or do they want to be in the center of the ring? These questions need to be answered - then a very clever plan should be drawn up.

The Pary (in my opinion) needs to start thinking of themselves as a new, radical, and SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. It is not easy to start from limited rescources - but many ground breaking business have. Stop following the other parties and their slogans, and money creating drives etc (it's history). If the Greens are looking to the future, they may need to develop future looking plans for raising capitol. There is no lack of capital for truly clever, efficient and visionary ideas….
(I would take Zaadz as an example - they still have to prove their ideas - but I agree with the concept. If the future is Green  - then the future money is Green also. Find the Green Entrepreneurs of tomorrow and make alliances with/support them.)

Using the Business model - your slogan/idea is :
Keep your mortgate/chequing with Bank of America, but please put your loose change in to Bank of Green.
Why should they? Does that inspire confidence for the Bank of Green?

So Bill, I think your slogan - your idea is OK - it is practical. It may bring in some money but the problem with it, is that it still enforces to the public that the Greens are not really deserving of anything but charity. That does not really work in politics. There are some bleeding hearts, but most people vote and pay where they think the future is - or  they use protest votes/dontations. I suppose your idea is to capture the 'protest donations' - but it is a double edged sword. The Greens deserve more - and if they are clever and confident, they can get it.

cheers
Michael.

PS yes I am being idealistic - but the Greens seem confounded in Europe as to why they 'never really get anywhere'. They take one step forward - maybe two, and then one or two back. The only solution - to stop imitating the other parties. Look to the future. SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. Stop thinking like the underdog. Be professional and more efficient than the other parties. Brodcast confidence. Never compare, and actually, never even mention the other parties if possible.

M

Re: What the greens need... is money

Well, the 'slogan' or talking point I suggested is meant to be temporary - a way to tap the current deep distrust of the existing political machines, to use the annoyance of a sector of democratic voters in the U.S. It has a useable lifespan of about 6 years.

So, it's not so much an idea for green organization or platform, but for green outreach. Actually, it's an idea more for democrats, than for the greens.

Altho, if the greens said openly - “Unhappy democrats, give us the money you would give to the democratic party, and we will fight harder than the Democrats would to make sure environment, energy, justice, and other green issues are part of the public debate.” - that might actually work.

As a way to get short term funding for the next few years of operations, and a way to affect the public perception of the issues.

—-

Your “The Party (in my opinion) needs to start thinking of themselves as a new, radical, and SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. ” thoughts are interesting, and I'd like to hear more about that.

I think that in the U.S. there will still be a need for a green political party, even if it never manages to gain more than a small percentage of registered members. As am official political party, you have a way to leverage yourself into the public debate, even if the rules are stacked against you.

And, if the environment does continue to change as it has been, there's going to come a time when the greens will be seen as having the best world model, and the best answers.
 

Re: What the greens need... is money

Bill, I like the idea and the slogan.  the concerns of michael not withstanding, it is a very practical idea.  two benefits come immediately to mind.  first, it keeps the green party visible to a large section of the population and may spark some interest in researching it further for those on the fringe and unhappy with the way things are in the U.S. political arena.  second, it puts the dems on notice.  essentially it says, change the way you are doing business get back to your professed values or you'll find yourself on the outside looking in down the road. the slogan has inspired me to check my democratic donations and send that cash to the greens, so mission accomplished in terms of this voter.

i keep waiting for a backlash from the populace in this country against the ruling plutocracy.  there is so much distrust and ill content underneath the surface, but it never comes to light.  i keep waiting for a catalyst that will spark the masses into action.  there is a movement for change undulating beneath the surface in this country, but as of yet it has not coalesced and galvanized itself.  it will take something extraordinary to serve as a catalyst and spark a chain reaction of protest and change.  yet extraordinary events have already occurred under the current republican leadership, and still it wasn't enough to spark widespread interest in change.  i'm ever hopeful, but fear that many will not stir from their apathetic slumber until something catastrophic occurs.

Re: What the greens need... is money

I think the lack of money is a problem and it can cause a muffled voice in politics. 

Evangelical Christians could be a great force for “Greenies” to join.  I am not pushing their religious points of view or even some of their political views, but they are a very larger group of voters, some say that they are why Bush is in office to day.  The Evangelical Christians in West Virginia and Boise Idaho are starting a “green revolution” in their churches.  There is a great piece about it on PBS http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/green/index.html.

The West Virginia story is the most tragic and has made national news.  The owner of the mining company is putting up a large amount of money to get his politicians voted in to office.  If we could focus on some of these smaller fight and funnel money in to forces the mining company to clean up the environment one small battle that might help the green party to feel braver and start thinking that we can make a difference. 

Re: What the greens need... is money

Ok was thinking more about this last night.
Yes the Green Party needs money. One of the other big prob's I saw was in keeping good teams or professional level people in their positions - as the Party could not really pay good salaries, the staff was often changing. Much energy and impetus was eroded.

BUT I also saw deeper problems. Problems of Vision. In my opinion - this is far more draining than a lack of cash. People will pull together and can perform 'miracles' when truly inspired. Money cannot purchase this.

So all I am saying is that asking for money is great - much needed. But if there is a lack of vision, or clarity or ingenuity in the project plan - then cash is not the solution.

And I had to admit in the 6 years I worked with the party… that perhaps the Greens were not ready for more…. ! Not deserving. This is a controversial opinion, but it may have some truth. This is why I encourage the Greens to take a (radical) business model to their ideas - practical, professional, efficient, inspired.

Im not very familiar with the Green movement in the USA. So what I say here may not directly apply - or does it?

regards,
Michael HH

Re: What the greens need... is money

Can you give specific examples of the vision issues you have in mind?

Here is the US, in order to be effective in politics, you need a pretty significant set of political skills. I don't see much sign of political skill in the greens - and as soon as a person gains political skills, they move to the larger parties, which is where all the action, money, and career oppurtunities lay.

Which is to say, the greens are marginalized here, very weak.

But, I think there is potential, largely because increased population and decreasing resources will force people to be more conscious of the limits of the biosphere.

—

Here in the US, there's a CNN commentator named Lou Dobbs, who's out now promoting his book about the demise of the middle class.

One of his points is that neither of the big parties serves the interest of the middle class now - both parties only serve the corporations and the wealthy.

One of the things he suggests is that the middle class should start registering as “Independents”, which basically means the little parties, chiefly the Libertarians, and the Greens.

This is a bit of a radical idea, but I think it might catch on and become popular. This means that many people might, in the next decade, register as green when before they never would have considered it.

This could be the Green's big chance.

How do Greens communicate with each other?

Is there some kind of main Green bulletin board or blog in which greens talk to each other?

Is there an official green maillist?

I'd like to find out who the green leaders are in my area.

Re: How do Greens communicate with each other?

Hi Bill,

I used to live practically next door to you, in Lewisburg, PA, and for a little while tried (rather unsuccessfully, unfortunately) to organize greens in four surrounding counties. We set up a yahoo group for communication. Maybe there's one for your area? The PA greens have a decent web site
http://www.gpofpa.org/
with a list of organized greens by county. Don't know how up-to-date it is. It's hard to imagine there isn't an active group in State College.

For everyone else, I would start with the U.S. Green Party page links for state parties/groups:
http://www.gp.org/states.shtml

Good luck!
Amy

Re: How do Greens communicate with each other?

Lewisburg, sure, there's been some folks doing things in that area for a while, they used to publish a zine called Kindred Spirits that I did some stuff for a long time ago.

I've been asking around in the area, and there sure doesn't seem to be much.

http://www.voicesweb.org/?q=node/299

I used to do things with the student organization Eco-Action, I'll have to check and see if that still exists. No sign of campus greens at penn state, as far as I can tell.

You would think the greens would be getting a charge from the coverage of global warming, but if anything they seem more subduded than they used to be.

I joined that http://www.gpofpa.org/ website and got on their mailist, the web site is pretty quiet.

Now that this election is basically over, I'm thinking of spending the next two years studying the greens. The libertarians too. The internet and netroots phenomenon should be even more effective for small nimble independents.

Re: What the greens need... is money

“For Now, Vote Democrat, But Donate Green!”.

That's what I do.  Though I occasionally vote Libertarian.  I did in the Georgia Governor's race.  I did not care for Mark Taylor, so I voted for the Libertarian.

I only give to the Green Party, but don't really have any Green candidates to vote for where I live.  I did a write-in for Ralph Nader in 2000, but that is the only Green I have ever voted for. 

Even though I live in Georgia, I don't feel that bad about the state going against the movement in the rest of the country and becoming even more Republican, because my own U.S. congressman, state congressman, and state senator are all Democrats.

Jim